History

These centuries saw the construction of magnificent Gothic buildings such as the cathedral and other palaces and monuments. Barcelona acted as the focal point for the exchange of scholar and scientific knowledge between the European and Muslim worlds and the arts flourished under the great patrionage. Foreign trade saw to it that shipbuilding and conquest were established.
Ferdinand of Aragon-Catlunya (Ferrán II in Catalunya) married Isabella of Castille, thus forming the nucleus of the Spanish state. Barcelona was now just one of the seats of The Catholic Monarchs because in 1492 they finally captured the last Moorish stronghold, Granada. This year also saw the discovery of America by Columbus, financed by Isabella, and upon his return he was received by the monarchs in the Royal Palace in Barcelona.

The 16th century, which was a golden age for Spain , saw Barcelona's influence decline further and eventually Madrid, a previously insignificant city in the centre on the country was made the capital.
In 1640 a revolt against the five year old war with France started in Barcelona and saw Catalunya first declared as a republic allied to France. Forced to surrender under the 1652 seige of Barcelona, the Catalan territories north of the Pyrenees were given to France. The following years saw the city rebuilt, only to see it destroyed again in the wars against France of 1680 and 1690.

In 1705, following years of interference from Madrid, Catalunya signed a treaty with England and Genoa and went to war. This ended with the 13 month seige of Barcelona, which ended on 11th September 1714, celebrated today as Catalunya's national day. The Generalitat was dissolved and offical use of the Catalan language was banned. To add insult to injury an occupying force was installed in the Ciutadella fortress, built specifically for this purpose.